Advertising device



Sept. 6 1927.

r ,W. H. M DONALD ET AL ADVERTISING DEVICE Filed July 12. 1926 w M, 5 o d w 4 9 m d w u m. w n a m Ew F M & 8 I 2 a 1. m .E a Q a I m,n fl a n a I. .L m WP.

@IWAQJW n 6 Patented Sept. 6, 1927.

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I 1,641,684 at secs.

WILLIAM H. MCDONALD, OF OVEBTOH, NEVADA, AND FRANK E. BESSEE, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNORS TO MCDONALD SECURITIES 00., LTD A COR- PORATION OF NEVADA.

ADVERTISING DEVICE.

Application filed July 12,

This invention relates to advertising devices of the type disclosed in the patent to illiam H. McDonald, Patent No. 1,494,609, granted May 20th, 1924. In this type of advertising device a number of advertising cards are mounted upon a rotary device or drum and the drum is periodically advanced so as to exhibit the cards in succession. In these devices the rotation of the drum is usually effected through the agency-of a solenoid and a switch automatically controlled by the solenoid. In order to provide an exhibiting space of considerable area, it has been attempted to construct these drums so that two cards are held in alignment with each other, that is to say, in the same plane, with the adjacent edges of the cards substantially abutting. This permits the entire faces of the two cards to be used for advertising matter. As the drum rotates, the cards .fall down in succession so that first the forward face and then the rear face of each card will be exposed to view. It has been attempted to pivotthe cards on small shafts but due to the length of the drum, these shafts tend to buckle and it has been found in practice that the adjacent edges of the cards can not be made to abut together nicely so as to give the effect of a large unbroken area carrying the advertising; hence, with this type of machine, although the utilization of both sides of the cards effected a great economy of space, the devices have been found unserviceable due to the buckling of the cards at their meeting edges, as referred to above.

The general object of this invention is to provide a compact advertising device of this type with improved means for supporting the advertising cards which will avoid the difficulty of buckling which has been incidental to the use of shafts for supporting the cards, and to provide a construction which wil enable the two exhibited cards which are presented to view to be held with their edges abutting neatly throughout their length.

These devices usually include an automatically controlled switch for controlling the circuit through the solenoid, and one of the objects of this invention is to provide a simple switch for this purpose which will be reliable in operation and which can readily be mounted in an oil cylinder or casing.

One of the difficulties arising in producing 1926. Serial No. 121,800.

a compact machine of this type is to provide a spring of sutlicient length to cooperate is described in the following specification,

while the broad scope of the invention is pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing: 7

Figure 1. is a vertical section through a machine embodying the invention; this section is taken in a front and rear direction and shows the solenoid and switch also in section.

Figure 2 is a cross section through the switch, taken about on the line 22 of Fig. l.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal section through the switch shown in Fig. 1 except that it shows the switch in a reverse p0sition.-

Figure 4 is a section taken through the wall at one end of the casing and showing a short portion of the exhibitor drum broken away and with the cards removed; this view also shows a ratchet wheel partly in section and partly in elevation, and illus trates our novel means for supporting the cards.

Figure 5 is a detail and is a section taken about on the line 55 of Fig. 4, but upon a somewhat enlarged scale. i

Figure 6 is a diagram of the wiring.

Figure 7 is a vertical section taken through the inner edge of one of the advertising cards and illustrating the manner in which itis hung on the drum.

In practicing the invention we provide a movable exhibitor for carrying advertising cards, and this part of the device is preferably in the form ofa drum 1 mounted in a box-form casing 2. The drum is con structed so that tension is utilized to hold the edges of the advertising cards 3 in a straight line. In order to accomplish this, we provide a plurality of tightly stretched wires 4 which extend longitudinallywith 8 extending out from their outer edges.

' The wires l may be extensions of a single piece of wire which would be wound by hand over the lugs, that is to say, the wire is laced on the face of the drum with the extensions passing to and fro with loops 9 at the collars 7, each loop 9 at one end being in a staggered relation with respect to a corresponding loop 9 on the opposite end.

At least one of the collars 7 is provided with set screws 10 which seat against the flange of the drum head 6. This flange may be formed with radial'slots 11 to enable the Wires to pass the flange. With this construction it will be evident that the wire may be put in place fairly tight by hand and the ends of the wire connected. Afterwards, the wire can be placed in tension by screwing up the set screws 10. The heads of the drum are formed with stub shafts or trunnions 12 which enable the drum to be rotatably supported between conical gudgeons 13 set in the end walls 14: of the casing. One of these trunnions carries a rigid ratchet wheel 15 which is utilized to efiect the periodic or step by step rotation of the drum.

By reason of the large diameter of the drum or cylinder 5 which constitutes the shaft of the drum 1, it will be evident that the drum forms a rigid frame for holding these wires and maintaining them in tension. In order to rotate the drum with a step by step movement, we provide a solenoid including a solenoid coil 16 and a core 17, which is guided to move longitudinally through the coil. In order to accomplish this and also to providea check pot to dampen the movement of the solenoid, we provide a check pot 18 comprising a barrel. 19 or cylinder to contain -a fluid, such as oil, and this barrel is guided to slide longitudinally on a relatively fixed plunger or piston 20.

In order to attain a checking action, the piston 20 is formed with an inner chamber 21 and is provided with valve ports 22 in its lower head. The valves 23 in the valve ports operate to check but not prevent the flow of the oil through the head, and in addition to this, the head is provided with a bleeder port 24 which may be always open and, if desired, may be controlled by a needle valve, not illustrated. Near its upper end the barrel 19 is provided with a link or arm 25 carrying a pawl. 26. This pawl extends out in an inclined direction (when the barrel is elevated) and its end rests on the teeth of the ratchet wheel, that is to say, rests by gravity on the upper edge of the ratchet wheel. At each down stroke of the core 17, the downward movement of the barrel 19 effects a movement of the pawl 26 which will give a rotation of the drum 1 toward the right through one tooth space. The drum is held in every position to which it is advanced by a detent pawl 27.

l ve provide an automatic switch 28 which controlled by the movement of the solenoid core and this switch includes insulated contacts 29 and 30, which may be engaged by the ends of a movable plunger 31. This plunger is mounted to reciprocate in suitable guides 32 so that it can move to and fro between the contacts, and along a line parallel with the aXis or line of movement of the solenoid core 17. The switch includes an actuator 33 which cooperates with the plunger, so that, as the actuator is moved longitudinally of the plunger 31 by the solenoid, at a certain point in the movement a sudden reversal of the position of the plunger will take place. In the position shown in Fig. 1, the upper end of the plunger is engaging contact 29. However, when the actuator 33 is moved upwardly beyond a certain point, the plunger 31 will snap down to its lower position in which it is indicated in Fig. 3. This actuator 33 consists of two shoes, preferably in the form of rollers 34:, and these rollers are carried on the lower ends of leaf springs 35 attached to the lower end of a stem 36 which is guided to slide to and fro in a vertical guide 37. In order to move this actuator, the barrel 19 has a laterally projecting arm 38 which may be slotted to receive the end of the stem 36. Near the limit of the upward movement of the barrel 19 this arm 33 strikes washer 39 on the stem and pulls the actuator up. On the other hand, near the end of the downward movement of the solenoid, this arm 38 strikes a collar %0 on the stem 36 and moves the actuator downwardly. A coil spring 37 counterbalances the actuator.

In order to enable the springs 35 and their shoes 34. to give this longitudinal movement to the plunger 31, the plunger is provided with an elongated collar 4-1 which is of insu ating material. and which is in the form of a double cone, that is to say, it consists of two cones with their bases set togetherso as to form a hip 42 about the middle of the collar. The rollers 34; have concave faces to fit the sides of this cone. hen the rollers 34 move past the hip 42 going in either direction, it will be evident that the pressure exerted by the ro lers on the conical collar 41 through the agency of the springs 35 will effect the quick shifting of the plunger 31 to its opposite position. This movement of the- Learner plunger is of course utilized to make and break the circuit through they solenoid pe riodically. Furthermore, after each movement of the solenoid core, when the core 16 is energized,lights are flashed so as to at tract attention to the device. Any suitable well known circuit arrangement may be used for attaining this effect. Such a circuit arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 6, in which the terminals 43 of the electric circuit are connected through a double switch 44 with two wires 45 and 46, the latter of which connects to two branches 47 and 48, one of these branches serving white lights 49 and the other serving red lights 50, the circuit through the white lights being closed through a conductor 51 leading to the upper contact 29, and the circuit through the colored lights 50' being closed through a conductor 52' connected with the lower contact 30. This circuit arrangement will alternate the red lights with the white lights and places the red lights in parallel with the solenoid core. The wire 45 of the circuit is grounded to the metallic guides 32 of the plunger 31 through branch wires 53.

In constructing a device of this kind so that it is compact, it is difiicult to provide a spring of sufiicient length to produce the reliable operation of the solenoid. In order to enable a long spring to be'used, we provide a long coil spring 54. the upper end of which is supported in a loop passing around a guide pulley The lower end of the spring is attached to a fixed pin 56-. while the upper end is attached to a screw57 on the side of the solenoid core. This enables us to give a substantialy uniform pull to the solenoid core in returning it after it has been pulled down by the energized coil.

In order to hang the cards on the wires 4 of the drum, we form each card 3 of two plies or cardboards 58 (see Fig. 7) which-are pasted together except along a strip near their-inner edges, at which point we attach a plurality of small plates 59, the inner edges of which are formed into hooks 60. These hook plates 59 are located between the two plies of the card and by reason of the fact that the inner edges of the two cards 58 are not attached together, a narrow slot or slit 61 is formed through which the wire 4 may be introduced when the card is slipped into place. In order to hook a card on its proper wire it is merely necessary to apply the inner edge of the cardto the wire so that it enters the slot 61; the card is then shoved onto the wire so as to bring the wire 4 beyond the bill of the hook and the card is then pu'led outwardly so as to seat the wire in the bight of the hook.

In the operation of the device, the drum 1 and the pawl 26 cooperate in such a way that the pawl 26 will always leave the drum in a position with the two front wires in the same. vertical plane, and near the, horizontal axis of the drum- This holds the exhibited cards in a vertical plane. Each card is atin the different runs or extensions of the wire. I

It is understood that the embodiment of the invention described herein is only one of the many embodiments this invention may take, and wev do not wish to be limited in thepractice of the invention, nor in the claims. to the particular embodiment set, forth. I

\Vhen the cards 3 are mounted on the wires 4, their ends abut against the heads of the drums so that the heads of the, drums prevent the cards from shifting longitudinally on the, wires. I

The outer face of the piston 20 is provided with smal' pockets 63 which hold, the oil and assist in lubricating the cylinder 19 inits movementsv up and down on. the piston.

Vhat we claim is;:

1. In an advertising device, a rotatable drum having a plurality of wires, means for maintaining the wires taut, advertising cards hung on. the said Wires, and means for rotating the drum witha step by stepmovement to exhibit the cards.

2. In an advertising device, the combination of: a rotatable drum having heads at the ends thereof, wires carried by said heads, means for maintaining the wires in tension. a plurality of cards suspended on the taut wires, and means for rotating the drum with a step-by-step movement.

3. In an advertising device, the combination of. a rotatable drum, a collar mounted for longitudinal adjustment on each end of the drum, said collars having aligning lugs, Wires carried. on said lugs means for adjusting at least one of: said collars along the drum to maintain the wires in tension, and a plurality of cards carried respectively on the wires.

4. In an advertising device of the kind described, the combination of .a rotatable drum having collars mounted thereon and havingaligning lugs, a continuous Wire se cured on said lugs whereby a plurality of stretched wires are formed extending longitudinally of the drum, and means for adjusting at least one of said collars longitudinally of the drum to develop and maintain tension in the wires.

5. In an advertising device, the combination of a movable exhibitor for carrying advertising cards, a solenoid, means actuated by the solenoid for actuating the exhibitor, a switch" having a contact at-each end for closing a circuit through the solenoid, and including a plunger lying between the contacts with means for guiding the same to slide longitudinally, and engage the contacts alternately with its ends, an actuator for controlling the plunger comprising two shoes havingresilient means for pressing them against the side of the plunger, said plunger having a conical collar' coopcrating with the shoes to effect a shifting movement ofthe plunger when the shoes are moved longitudinally along the same, and means connecting the actuator with the solenoid for reciprocating the same.

6. In an advertising device, the combination of a movable exhibitor for carrying advertising cards, a solenoid, means actuated by the solenoid for actuating'the exhibitor, a switch having contacts for controlling the circuit through the solenoid and including a movable plunger mounted to-reciprocate, an actuator for controlling the plunger comprising two springs with presser rollers located on opposite sides of theplunger, said plunger having a collar cooperating with the rollers to effect a shifting movement of the plunger when the rollers are moved longitudinally along the col lar, means connecting the actuator with the solenoid for reciprocating the same and a spring for returning the solenoid, consisting of a coil with one end fixed and the other attached to the core of the solenoid and held in a loop.

7. In 'an advertising device of the kind described, the combination of a solenoid, a core controlled thereby, means for guiding the core longitudinally, and-a spring for returning the core consisting of an enlongated coil with one end fixed and the other end attached to the core, and a guide pulley around which the spring passes.

8; In an advertising device, the combination of a movable exhibitor for carrying advertising cards, a'solenoid, means actuated by thesolenoid for actuating the exhibitor,a switch having a contact at each end'and a movable plunger lying between the contacts to engage the same alternately with its ends for controlling the circuit through the solenoid, an actuator for con trolling the plunger comprising two springs with rollers'disposed on opposite sides of the plunger, said 'plunger'having a collar in the form of a double cone with a hip near its middle point and cooperating with the rollers to effect a shifting movement of the plunger when the rollers are moved longitudinally along the collar past the hip, and

means connecting the actuator with the.

solenoid for reciprocating the same.

9. In an advertising device, the c'ombinae tion of amovable exhibitor for carrying advertising cards, a solenoid, a check-pot consisting of a relatively fixed piston and a reciprocating barrel connected to the sole noid core and adapted to receive a fluid, said barrel having a laterally projecting arm, a switch having contacts and a plunger for controlling thecircuit through the solenoid, means for guiding said plunger to move along .a line substantially parallel with the line of movement of the core, an actu-' ing the .wireS in tension, and advertising cards mounted respectively on the wires with their ends abutting the said heads.

ll. In an advertising device, the combination of a frame, a rotatable drum, a plurality of taut wires carried on: the drum and extending longitudinally thereof, a plurality of advertising cards having slits in their upper edges to receive the wires respectively, with means within the slits for suspending the cards on the wires, and means for rotating the drum with a stepby-step movement to display the cards. in succession. v .7 v V 12. An advertising card to be, secured to a wire on a rotary drum, havinga'slit in its upper edge to receive the wire, and having a plate with a hook within the slit to engage the wire and suspend the card on the same.

Signed at Losi -ingeles, California, this 22nd day of June, 1926. WILLIAM H. MODONALD.

, FRANK E. BESSEE. 

